Several companies offer wetsuits designed to meet a variety of fit and performance needs of women. Like with any other performance apparel product, it's important to try on as many different brands as possible to find what you're looking for.
Use this women-specific wetsuit guide to determine which model best suits your needs, budget and skill level.
TYR Women's Hurricane Cat I Sleeveless
$174.99 1 of 10
Made of Slick-Skin Neoprene, this wetsuit offers high value for entry-level triathletes on a budget. Two of the top features of the Hurricane Cat 1 are the full shoulder mobility and the quick release ankle cuffs. Without arm panels, some triathletes will find sleeveless suits more comfortable than full sleeves when water temperatures are closer to the USA Triathlon allowable 78 degrees Fahrenheit. Wetsuits can be worn for water temperatures greater than 78 and less than 84 degrees, but these athletes are ineligible for prizes at USA Triathlon races.
ORCA Women's S5
$239 2 of 10
Considered an entry-level full wetsuit, the ORCA S5 has 5 millimeters (mm) thick Yamamoto neoprene on the front panel and 2 mm thick shoulder and arm panels. Full arm and leg coverage wetsuits are more buoyant and warmer than sleeveless suits. It also provides high buoyancy for the torso at a reasonable cost.
Zoot Women's Z Force 3.0
$325 3 of 10
This mid-range wetsuit features long sleeves and full-length leg coverage. The chest panels are grooved, allowing for more freedom of movement in the shoulders and more stretch for maximum lung expansion. Zoot also has similar wetsuits at lower price points if this model doesn't fit into your budget.
ROKA Women's Maverick Pro Sleeveless
$449 4 of 10
Built for speed, the sleeveless Maverick Pro offers more shoulder flexibility than a full wetsuit. ROKA puts thicker neoprene in the legs and less in the chest, since the lungs provide good buoyancy on their own when full of air. This suit also removes neoprene thickness from the sides of the suit to make it more comfortable and less stiff.
De Soto T1 First Wave Concept 5 Pullover and T1 Speed Tube
$360/$220 (top and bottom) 5 of 10
Though this wetsuit is not a women-specific design, it's included because it's a two-piece. If you have body dimensions that are difficult to fit with normal size ranges, having different top and bottom sizes to mix and match could be the answer.
Zone3 Women's Vanquish Triathlon
$624.99 6 of 10
Designed with an ultrathin, 1.5 mm one-piece shoulder panel, this full suit is designed to have high shoulder and arm range of motion. This suit uses Aerodome neoprene with air bubbles built between fabric layers to increase buoyancy. This fabric design is featured on the torso and upper legs.
Blueseventy Helix Full Wetsuit
$650 7 of 10
The Helix varies buoyancy ratings across the suit, consisting of a 5 mm chest, 1 mm arms, 5 mm torso and 5 mm leg thicknesses. The 1 mm cuffs at the wrist help to make a seal that prevents water entry. It also includes a 2 mm knee flex panel to allow for more range of motion and less bunching of the neoprene behind the knees.
Huub Women's Axena 3:5
$749.99 8 of 10
This suit uses 3 mm neoprene on the upper body for comfort and flexibility. It transitions to 5 mm neoprene on the lower body for more buoyancy in the hip and thigh areas, and offers a breakaway zipper so that the suit can be removed quickly during transitions.
TYR Women's Hurricane Freak of Nature
$1,199.99 9 of 10
The most expensive wetsuit on the market, the Hurricane Freak of Nature aims to be the most comfortable, buoyant and fastest product available. It employs 5mm thick neoprene panels across the chest, core and the length of the legs. The suit is made with an athletic fit and is tailored for women with high performance expectations seeking every small advantage.
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